Method Of Securing A Portable Electronic Device

ABSTRACT

A method of securing a portable electronic device with a touchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment comprises providing a sterilizable enclosure and providing a transfer device. The transfer device has an upper wall and a lower wall defining a passage. The enclosure provides a frame and a base movable between open and closed positions. The enclosure is held open with the transfer device. The electronic device is inserted through the passage and into the enclosure. One of the transfer device and the enclosure is moved away from the other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/298,304, filed on Mar. 11, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/761,916 which has a filing date of Oct.5, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,270,484 B2, which is the national stage ofPCT/US2016/055518, filed Oct. 5, 2016, which claims priority to and allthe benefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/237,315which was filed on Oct. 5, 2015, the disclosure of which is herebyincorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments set forth herein relate, generally, to enclosures forportable electronic devices and, more specifically, to a sterilizableenclosure for securing a portable electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Portable electronic devices, such as iPad®s, tablet computers, cellphones, and the like are frequently utilized in a number of differentenvironments and industries for facilitating communication and access toinformation. In the medical industry, portable electronic devices areincreasingly utilized by medical professionals during triage, patientexamination, and/or throughout the execution of medical procedures.

It will be appreciated that maintaining sterility and/or cleanliness inthe medical industry is important in preventing the spread ofcommunicable diseases, infection, pathogens, and the like. By way ofexample, medical procedures are typically performed in a sterileenvironment utilizing aseptically-packaged tools and materials in orderto prevent inadvertent ingress of contaminants which could otherwiseharm the patient or others. Further, it will be appreciated thatminimizing transfer of contaminants is also important after a medicalprocedure has taken place in order to prevent inadvertent spread ofcontaminants which could otherwise harm others, such as where a medicalprofessional has treated a highly-contagious patient.

Thus, in order to prevent transmission of contaminants, great care istaken to properly decontaminate reusable tools and equipment used inconnection with treating a patient. To that end, various decontaminationsteps and procedures known in the art are utilized, such as manualwashing, automatic washing with thermal disinfectant, steamsterilization (such as a pressurized chamber high-temperature steamautoclave), low-temperature sterilization (such as “Sterrad®”), point ofcontact chemical disinfection, application of disinfecting wipes andchemicals, and the like. These decontamination procedures are largelyincompatible with conventional portable electronic devices, which aretypically designed for general consumer use.

By way of example, portable electronic devices are often manufacturedfrom materials that are incompatible with medical-grade cleaning and/ordisinfectant agents. Further, portable electronic devices frequentlyinclude one or more connection ports that are open to the environmentand cannot be exposed to liquids without causing irreversible damage.Similarly, while various shields, cases, and covers for portableelectronic devices are known in the art, many are specifically designedfor consumer use and are incompatible with one or more of thedecontamination procedures described above, such as because of thepresence of disadvantageous gaps or crevices, and may be expensive,difficult to use, or may otherwise restrict functionality of theportable electronic device in use.

For the foregoing reasons, there remains a need in the art for asterilizable enclosure which prevents ingress and egress of contaminantsto and from a secured portable electronic device and which strikes asubstantial balance between usability, functionality, and manufacturingcost while, at the same time, affording compatibility withdecontamination procedures commonly utilized in the medical industry.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a sterilizable enclosure is provided for use insecuring a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface andfor preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from thesecured portable electronic device. A frame comprising a frame peripheryedge is provided. The frame defines a window, and a transparent panel isoperatively attached to the frame adjacent to the window. Thetransparent panel is arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of theportable electronic device. A base is provided for being coupled to theframe, and comprises a base periphery edge. The base and the framecooperate to define a closed position of the sterilizable enclosure inwhich the portable electronic device is secured between the base and theframe. A seal is provided and comprises a seal periphery edge. The sealis operatively attached to at least one of the base and the frame, andis arranged to be engaged between the base and the frame when thesterilizable enclosure is in the closed position so as to preventingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portableelectronic device. The seal periphery edge is arranged adjacent to theframe periphery edge and the base periphery edge.

In another embodiment, a sterilizable enclosure is provided for use insecuring a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface andfor preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from thesecured portable electronic device. A frame defining a window isprovided. A base is provided for being coupled to the frame. The baseand the frame cooperate to define a closed position of the sterilizableenclosure in which the portable electronic device is secured between thebase and the frame. A lock mechanism is provided for selectively lockingthe sterilizable enclosure in the closed position. A glass panel isoperatively attached to the frame adjacent to the window and is arrangedto abut the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device whenthe sterilizable enclosure is locked in the closed position. A seal isoperatively attached to at least one of the base and the frame and isarranged to be engaged between the base and the frame when thesterilizable enclosure is locked in the closed position so as to preventingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portableelectronic device. A biasing mechanism is operatively attached to thebase to urge the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic deviceinto abutment with the glass panel to enable a capacitive couplingbetween the glass panel and the touchscreen interface of the securedportable electronic device when the sterilizable enclosure is in theclosed position.

In another embodiment, a sterilizable enclosure is provided for use insecuring a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface andfor preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from thesecured portable electronic device. A frame defining a window isprovided. A base is provided for being coupled to the frame. The baseand the frame cooperate to define a closed position of the sterilizableenclosure in which the portable electronic device is secured between thebase and the frame. A lock mechanism is provided for selectively lockingthe sterilizable enclosure in the closed position. The lock mechanismcomprises a lock element rotatably coupled to one of the base and theframe. A glass panel is operatively attached to the frame adjacent tothe window and is arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of theportable electronic device when the sterilizable enclosure is locked inthe closed position. A seal is operatively attached to at least one ofthe base and the frame. Rotation of the lock element of the lockmechanism from a first position to a second position urges the base andthe frame towards each other to enable a capacitive coupling between theglass panel and the touchscreen interface of the secured portableelectronic device and to engage the seal so as to prevent ingress andegress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice.

In another embodiment, a sterilizable enclosure is provided for use insecuring a portable electronic device having a touchscreen interface andfor preventing ingress and egress of contaminants to and from thesecured portable electronic device. A frame defining a window isprovided, and a transparent panel is operatively attached to the frameadjacent to the window. The transparent panel is arranged to abut thetouchscreen interface of the portable electronic device. A base isprovided for being coupled to the frame. The base and the framecooperate to define a closed position of the sterilizable enclosure inwhich the portable electronic device is secured between the base and theframe. A seal is operatively attached to one of the base and the frameand is arranged to be engaged between the base and the frame when thesterilizable enclosure is in the closed position so as to preventingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portableelectronic device. An engagement element is operatively attached to theother of the base and the frame and is shaped to engage the seal whenthe sterilizable enclosure is in the closed position. The seal and theengagement element each define a boundary between: a touch zonecomprising first portions of the base and the frame, and a no-touch zonecomprising second portions of the base and the frame. An indicia isprovided, and is configured to differentiate the first portions of thetouch zone from the second portions of the no-touch zone so as topromote contact only within the first portions of the base and the frameof the sterilizable enclosure.

In another embodiment, a method is provided for securing a portableelectronic device having a touchscreen interface for use in a sterileenvironment. The method comprises: providing a sterilizable enclosurecomprising a frame defining a window with a transparent paneloperatively attached to the frame adjacent to the window and arranged toabut the touchscreen interface of the portable electronic device, a basepivotally coupled to the frame, and a seal arranged to be engagedbetween the base and the frame when the sterilizable enclosure is in aclosed position so as to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants toand from the secured portable electronic device; providing a transferdevice configured to shield at least a portion of the sterilizableenclosure from contaminants while holding the sterilizable enclosure inan opened position with the frame pivoted away from the base; holdingthe sterilizable enclosure in the opened position with the transferdevice; inserting the portable electronic device into the sterilizableenclosure while in the opened position; and moving the transfer deviceaway from the sterilizable enclosure to allow the frame to move towardsthe base into the closed position.

The sterilizable enclosures prevent both ingress and egress ofcontaminants to and from a secured portable electronic device, therebysignificantly contributing to sterility and affording increasedopportunity for robust utilization of portable electronic devices inindustry while, at the same time, reducing the cost and complexity ofmanufacturing, assembling, and using sterilizable enclosures.

Sometimes, portable electronic devices are used in such a manner thatclassifies them as devices requiring routine decontamination to removeor kill micro-organisms, such as by chemical disinfectants. Thesterilizable enclosures provide a solution to enable suchdecontamination procedures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top-side perspective view of a sterilizable enclosureaccording to one embodiment, showing a base pivotally coupled to a framewith the base and the frame arranged in a closed position, and a lockmechanism shown in a locked configuration.

FIG. 2 is a bottom-side perspective view of the sterilizable enclosureof FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top-side perspective view of the sterilizable enclosure ofFIGS. 1-2, shown in the closed position and with the lock mechanism inan unlocked configuration.

FIG. 4 is a top-side perspective view of the sterilizable enclosure ofFIGS. 1-3, shown in a fully opened position.

FIG. 5 is a top-side perspective view of a portable electronic devicespaced from the base of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top-side perspective view of the portable electronic deviceand sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 5, shown with the portable electronicdevice seated in the base.

FIG. 7 is a top-side perspective view of the portable electronic deviceand sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 6, shown in the closed position withthe lock mechanism in the unlocked configuration.

FIG. 8 is a top-side perspective view of the portable electronic deviceand sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 7, shown in the closed position withthe lock mechanism in the locked configuration.

FIG. 9 is a top-side plan view of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 4,shown in the opened position with the lock mechanism in the unlockedconfiguration.

FIG. 10 is a bottom-side plan view of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG.9, shown in the opened position with the lock mechanism in the unlockedconfiguration.

FIG. 11 is a top-side plan view of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 1,shown in the closed position with the lock mechanism in the lockedconfiguration.

FIG. 12 is an offset sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the sterilizableenclosure taken from indicia 13 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14A is an enlarged partial sectional view of the sterilizableenclosure taken from indicia 14A of FIG. 12, showing a buttonarrangement according to one embodiment.

FIG. 14B is an enlarged partial sectional view of another buttonarrangement alternate to the button arrangement of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14C is an enlarged partial sectional view of another buttonarrangement alternate to the button arrangements of FIGS. 14A and 14B.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the sterilizableenclosure taken from indicia 15 of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is an offset sectional view taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 17A is an offset sectional view taken along line 17A-17A of FIG.11, shown with the lock mechanism in the locked configuration.

FIG. 17B is an offset sectional view of the sterilizable enclosure ofFIG. 17A showing the lock mechanism in the unlocked configuration.

FIG. 18A is a partial perspective view of the portable electronic deviceseated in the base of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 6, shown withthe lock mechanism in the unlocked configuration and with the framespaced from and adjacent to the base, the lock mechanism depicted with acatch and with a lock element shown in a first position.

FIG. 18B is another partial perspective view of the portable electronicdevice and sterilizable enclosure of FIG. 18A, shown with the framespaced closer to the base than as depicted in FIG. 18A.

FIG. 18C is another partial perspective view of the portable electronicdevice and sterilizable enclosure of FIGS. 18A-18B, shown with the lockelement rotated away from the first position as depicted in FIGS.18A-18B.

FIG. 18D is another partial perspective view of the portable electronicdevice and sterilizable enclosure of FIGS. 18A-18C, shown with the lockelement rotated further away from the first position than as depicted inFIG. 18C.

FIG. 18E is another partial perspective view of the portable electronicdevice and sterilizable enclosure of FIGS. 18A-18D, shown in the closedposition with the lock mechanism in the unlocked configuration and withthe lock element in a second position.

FIG. 19 is a top-side perspective view of another embodiment of thesterilizable enclosure depicted in FIGS. 1-18E, shown with an auxiliaryhousing operatively attached to and in communication with the base.

FIG. 20A is a perspective view of a transfer device according to oneembodiment shown positioned adjacent to the sterilizable enclosuredepicted in FIGS. 1-18E.

FIG. 20B is another perspective view of the transfer device andsterilizable enclosure of FIG. 20A, shown positioned adjacent to theportable electronic device of FIG. 5, with the sterilizable enclosureheld open by the transfer device.

FIG. 20C is another perspective view of the transfer device,sterilizable enclosure, and portable electronic device of FIG. 20B,shown with the portable electronic device seated in the base of thesterilizable enclosure held open by the transfer device.

FIG. 21 is a top-side perspective view of the transfer device of FIGS.20A-20C.

FIG. 22 is a bottom-side perspective view of the transfer device ofFIGS. 20A-21.

FIG. 23 is a bottom-side plan view of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG.10, shown in the opened position with the lock mechanism in the unlockedconfiguration, and depicting a no-touch zone of the sterilizableenclosure.

FIG. 24 is a top-side plan view of the sterilizable enclosure of FIG.23, depicting portions of the no-touch zone of the sterilizableenclosure, and depicting an indicia within a touch zone of thesterilizable enclosure.

FIG. 25 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of thesterilizable enclosure, depicting a base and a frame arranged in anopened position with each of the base and the frame having an indicia.

FIG. 26 is a top-side perspective view of a sterilizable enclosureaccording to another embodiment, showing a base pivotally coupled to aframe with the base and the frame arranged in an opened position, and alock mechanism shown in an unlocked configuration.

FIG. 27 is a bottom-side perspective view of the sterilizable enclosureof FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a top-side partially-exploded perspective view of asterilizable enclosure according to another embodiment, showing a baseand a frame spaced from each other with a portable electronic devicearranged between the base and the frame.

FIG. 29 is a bottom-side partially-exploded perspective view of thesterilizable enclosure and portable electronic device of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the base of thesterilizable enclosure taken from indicia 30 of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the frame of thesterilizable enclosure taken from indicia 31 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a top-side plan view of the sterilizable enclosure of FIGS.28-31, shown in a closed position.

FIG. 33 is a sectional view taken along line 33-33 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 34 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the sterilizableenclosure taken from indicia 34 of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a sectional view taken along line 35-35 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 36 is a sectional view taken along line 36-36 of FIG. 32.

FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view showing an alternate portableelectronic device shown spaced from an intermediate device adaptor andbias elements of a bias mechanism for use with sterilizable enclosuresaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a top-side plan view of another embodiment of thesterilizable enclosure, shown with a link for actuating a lockmechanism.

FIG. 39 is a partially exploded perspective view of another embodimentof the sterilizable enclosure, shown in an opened position with aportable electronic device spaced between a base and a frame.

FIG. 40 is a top-side plan view of the frame of the sterilizableenclosure of FIG. 39, showing a lock mechanism in an unlockedconfiguration.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a portable electronic device spacedfrom a frame of a sterilizable enclosure having a preassembly mechanismaccording to one embodiment.

FIG. 42 is a bottom-side plan view of the portable electronic deviceengaged by the preassembly device of the frame of FIG. 41.

FIG. 43 is a partial sectional view of a portable electronic deviceengaged by a preassembly device alternate to the preassembly device ofFIG. 42.

FIG. 44A is a partial top-side view of a sterilizable enclosureaccording to one embodiment, shown having a lock mechanism in anunlocked neutral configuration.

FIG. 44B is another partial top-side view of the sterilizable enclosureof FIG. 44A, shown with the lock mechanism in a locked configuration.

FIG. 44C is another partial top-side view of the sterilizable enclosureof FIGS. 44A-44B, shown with the lock mechanism in an autoclaveconfiguration.

FIG. 45A is a partial section view taken along line 45A-45A in FIG. 44A.

FIG. 45B is a partial section view taken along line 45B-45B in FIG. 44B.

FIG. 45C is a partial section view taken along line 45C-45C in FIG. 44C.

FIG. 46 is a partial top-side view of a sterilizable enclosure accordingto one embodiment, shown with a hermetically sealed connectoroperatively attached to a base positioned adjacent to a portableelectronic device.

FIG. 47 is a partial top-side view of a sterilizable enclosure accordingto another embodiment, shown with a hermetically sealed connector, aharness, and an auxiliary cable operatively attached to a basepositioned adjacent to a portable electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate likeparts throughout the several views, a sterilizable enclosure isgenerally shown at 100 in FIGS. 1-20C. As described in greater detailbelow, the sterilizable enclosure 100 is adapted for use in securing aportable electronic device, generally indicated at 102, having atouchscreen interface 104 (see FIG. 5), and is further adapted toprevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the securedportable electronic device 102. To that end, the sterilizable enclosure100 includes a frame, generally indicated at 106, which defines a window108. A base, generally indicated at 110, is provided for being coupledto the frame 106. The base 110 and the frame 106 cooperate to define aclosed position 100A of the sterilizable enclosure 100, in which theportable electronic device 102 is secured between the base 110 and theframe 106.

In the representative embodiment illustrated herein, the sterilizableenclosure 100 further comprises a lock mechanism, generally indicated at112, operatively attached to the base 110 and the frame 106 forselectively locking the sterilizable enclosure 100 in the closedposition 100A, as described in greater detail below. A transparentpanel, such as glass panel 114, is operatively attached to the frame 106adjacent to the window 108, and is arranged to abut the touchscreeninterface 104 of the portable electronic device 102 when thesterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in the closed position 100A toeffect a capacitive coupling between the glass panel 114 and thetouchscreen interface 104. A seal 116 is operatively attached to atleast one of the base 110 and the frame 106 and is arranged to beengaged between the base 110 and the frame 106 (for example, compressedbetween) when the sterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in the closedposition 100A so as to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to andfrom the secured portable electronic device 102. Each of thesecomponents will be described in greater detail below.

As will be appreciated from the subsequent description below, thepresent disclosure is directed, generally, towards two types ofsterilizable enclosures: a first type in which the base 110 and theframe 106 are pivotally attached to each other via one or more hinges118 (see the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-20, 23-24, and 26-27), anda second type without hinges (see the embodiments depicted in FIGS.28-36 and 39-40). Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that certain components, structures, and arrangements arecommon between the embodiments and may be interchanged betweenembodiments for certain applications, as is described in greater detailbelow.

In the embodiments illustrated herein, one or more, or even all, of thevarious components of the sterilizable enclosure 100 are capable ofwithstanding repeated steam sterilization in an autoclave, in which thesterilizable enclosure 100 is subjected to a temperature of 134 degreesCelsius for 3 minutes or subjected to a temperature of 121 degreesCelsius for 15 minutes. The components of the sterilizable enclosure 100may also be configured to withstand chemical detergents used in cleaningmedical/surgical equipment. In other embodiments, the sterilizableenclosure 100 may be configured to withstand all known sterilization anddecontamination methods for medical equipment, or only specificsterilization methods and/or specific decontamination methods. In oneembodiment, “withstand” means experiencing decontamination conditionswithout melting, deformation, or decomposition. Certain methods fordecontamination may include manual wash, automatic wash (such as withthermal disinfectant), steam sterilization, low-temperaturesterilization (such as Sterrad®), chemical disinfection (for example,point-of-contact), chemical and mechanical cleaning (such as withdetergents and microfiber materials), and the like.

To this end, certain components of the sterilizable enclosure 100, suchas the base 110 and/or the frame 106, may advantageously be manufacturedfrom one or more materials that facilitate heat transfer of the securedportable electronic device 102 in operation. By way of non-limitingexample, the base 110 and/or the frame 106 could be manufactured atleast partially or fully from aluminum, stainless steel, magnesium, andthe like. Moreover, other materials may be advantageously used, such ascarbon-fiber, plastic, composites such as Raydel®, or combinationsthereof, or any other suitable material. The “components” describedabove may include each and every piece of the sterilizable enclosure 100described above, including but not limited to, the frame 106, the base110, the seal 116, the transparent panel 114, etc. Furthermore, incertain embodiments, the sterilizable enclosure may consist of materialsthat have a melting point greater than 130 degrees Celsius. Moreover, aswill be appreciated from the subsequent description below, certaincomponents may comprise materials which have been treated, coated, etc.so as to effect antimicrobial properties. By way of non-limitingexample, copper alloy coatings or plating may be applied to one or moreof the components of the sterilizable enclosure 100 to promote orotherwise effect antimicrobial properties.

The portable electronic device 102 may be configured to interact withother computers, devices, systems, sensors, machines, and/or networks,such as via wireless communication over Bluetooth®, a WiFi™ Local AreaNetwork (LAN), and the like. As shown best in FIGS. 5, 46, and 47, theportable electronic device 102 may also include one or more inputcontrols 120, such as a “home button,” for facilitating selectivecontrol of the portable electronic device 102 in addition to controlafforded by the touchscreen interface 104. Moreover, the portableelectronic device 102 could include one or more connection ports 122,such as a “charging port,” a “headphone port,” and/or a “data port,” forconnection to one or more electrical connectors or cables.

In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 46 and 47, thesterilizable enclosure 100 includes a hermetically sealed connector,generally indicated at 124, which is operatively attached to the base110 and which is configured to facilitate electrical communicationbetween the connection port 122 of the portable electronic device 102and a cable 126 external to the sterilizable enclosure 100 and securedportable electronic device 102, which may advantageously besterilizable. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 46, the portableelectronic device 102 can be releasably attached directly to the sealedconnector 124. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 47, the portableelectronic device 102 can be releasably attached to a harness, generallyindicated at 128, which, in turn, can be releasably (or, permanently)attached to the sealed connector 124. In this embodiment, the harness128 further comprises an auxiliary cable, generally indicated at 130,which may be disposed in electrical communication with the sealedconnector 124 and/or the connection port 122. Here, the auxiliary cable130 may be adapted for connection to other components which may beoperatively attached to or otherwise integrated with the sterilizableenclosure 100, such as one or more sensors, data transmission modules,power sources or batteries, inductive-charging modules, cameras,scanners (for example, a barcode scanner or an RFID scanner), and thelike. Like the sealed connector 124, the harness 128 and the auxiliarycable 130 are similarly arranged to be isolated from the outsideenvironment when the portable electronic device 102 is secured in thesterilizable enclosure 100 when locked in the closed position 100A, asis described in greater detail below.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19, the sterilizable enclosure 100further comprises an auxiliary housing, generally indicated at 132,which may be employed to accommodate one or more of the components notedabove in connection with the auxiliary cable 130. The auxiliary housing132 has a generally hollow configuration, is operatively attached to thebase 110 via fasteners 134, and is disposed in communication with anauxiliary aperture 136 defined in the base 110. An auxiliary seal (notshown) may be provided to facilitate connection of the auxiliary housing132 to the base 110 and to prevent ingress and/or egress of contaminantsadjacent the auxiliary housing 132. It will be appreciated that theauxiliary housing 132 could alternatively be formed integrally with thehousing 132.

As illustrated in FIG. 19, in one embodiment, the auxiliary housing 132defines a sensor window 138 in which a sensor panel 140 is supported.Here, the sensor panel 140 is configured to allow light transmissionthereacross, which may be advantageous for certain applications, such aswhere the auxiliary housing 132 accommodates a barcode scanner. Thesensor panel 140 could be manufactured from any suitable materialsufficient to transmit light, such as glass, sapphire, quartz, plastic,and the like, and also withstand conditions of the variousdecontamination procedures described herein. In certain embodiments, theauxiliary housing 132 may comprise materials that allow various forms ofelectromagnetic communication to pass therethrough, such as ultravioletradiation, infrared radiation, and the like. It will be appreciated thatthe sensor panel 140 and the auxiliary housing 132 could be secured toany suitable portion of the sterilizable enclosure 100 in any waysufficient to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from thesecured portable electronic device 102. Moreover, it will be appreciatedthat the auxiliary housing 132, sensor panel 140, sealed connector 124,cable 126, harness 128, and/or auxiliary cable 130 could be used inconnection with other embodiments described herein without limitation.

In the representative embodiments depicted throughout the drawings, thetouchscreen interface 104 of the portable electronic device 102 isrealized as a so-called “capacitive touch” interface (not shown indetail, but generally known in the related art). Here, in oneembodiment, the glass panel 114 is arranged such that external tactileengagement by a user on an outwardly facing side of the glass panel 114is at least partially translated to an electrostatic field of theportable electronic device 102 via interaction with a conductive object(not shown, but generally known in the art), such as a finger or stylus,when the sterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in the closed position100A. It will be appreciated that the portable electronic device 102itself is not a component of the sterilizable enclosure 100 and, thus,could employ any suitable type of touchscreen interface 104. Similarly,it will be appreciated that the portable electronic device 102 could beof any suitable size, type, or configuration sufficient to be secured bythe sterilizable enclosure 100. By way of non-limiting example, theportable electronic device 102 could be an iPad®, a tablet computer, acell phone, or any other type of portable electronic device that employsa touchscreen interface 104. Furthermore, in some alternativeembodiments, the portable electronic device 102 may include other typesof user interfaces.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-20C, as noted above, the lock mechanism 112is provided for selectively locking the sterilizable enclosure 100 inthe closed position 100A. To this end, in one embodiment, the lockmechanism 112 includes a first lock element 142 rotatably coupled to oneof the base 110 and the frame 106, and a second lock element 144operatively attached to the other of the base 110 and the frame 106. Asis best illustrated in FIGS. 18A-18E, rotation of the first lock element142 from a first position 142A (see FIGS. 18A and 18B) to a secondposition 142B (see FIG. 18E; compare with FIGS. 18A-18D) urges the base110 and the frame 106 towards each other to enable a capacitive couplingbetween the glass panel 114 and the touchscreen interface 104 of thesecured portable electronic device 102, and to engage the seal 116 so asto prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the securedportable electronic device 102.

In the representative embodiment illustrated herein, the first lockelement 142 and the second lock element 144 of the lock mechanism 112cooperate to selectively lock the sterilizable enclosure 100 in theclosed position 100A. To this end, the first lock element 142 comprisesa latch 146 and a cam 148, and the second lock element 144 comprises acatch 150. Here, the latch 146 has an elongated, generally C-shapedprofile and is rotatably coupled to the base 110 via a fastener 134 witha washer 152 arranged between the latch 146 and the base 110 (see FIGS.17A and 17B). Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat the C-shaped profile of the latch 146 helps promote engagement ofthe seal 116 when locked in the closed position 100A, as noted above. Inthe representative embodiment illustrated herein, the first lock element142 is realized as a unitary, one-piece component such that the cam 148and the latch 146 are integrally formed and, thus, rotate concurrentlybetween the first position 142A (see FIGS. 17A and 18A) and the secondposition 142B (see FIGS. 17B and 18B). The catch 150, in turn, isoperatively attached to the frame 106 via a fastener 134 and is shapedso as to engage the cam 148 of the first lock element 142 such thatrotation of the first lock element 142 towards the second position 142Burges the frame 106 towards the base 110 as a result of the engagementbetween the cam 148 and the catch 150. As is best shown in FIGS.18A-18D, a recess 154 is defined in the frame 106 adjacent to the catch150 and is shaped complimentarily to the latch 146 of the first lockelement 142. It will be appreciated that this configuration affords thesterilizable enclosure 100 with a substantially contiguous externalsurface 156 when locked in the closed position 100A (see FIGS. 1 and 2).It will be appreciated that other configurations of the lock mechanism112 may be used with various embodiments of the sterilizable enclosure100.

In the embodiments of the sterilizable enclosure 100 depicted hereinwhich utilize the hinge 118 to pivotally couple the base 110 and theframe 106, both the first lock element 142 and the second lock element144 are disposed outside of the seal 116 so that the seal 116 ispositioned between the lock mechanism 112 and the secured portableelectronic device 102. It will be appreciated that this configurationreduces the number of available leak paths to the secured portableelectronic device 102 from the outside environment, or vice versa. Inother words, the seal 116 is not interrupted by the lock mechanism 112or the hinge 118. It will be appreciated that the hinges 118 and/or lockmechanisms 112 could be configured in a number of different ways. In theembodiments depicted with hinges 118, the sterilizable enclosure 100 isprovided with a pair of first lock elements 142 and a corresponding pairof second lock elements 144, whereby the cams 148 cooperate with therespective catches 150 to selectively lock the sterilizable enclosure100 in the closed position 100A. However, as will be appreciated fromthe subsequent description below, the lock mechanism 112 could have anysuitable configuration sufficient to secure the base 110 and the frame106 in the closed position 110A to effect the capacitive coupling andseal 116 engagement described above and, thus, the lock mechanism 112could be operatively attached to or otherwise formed integrally with thebase 110 and/or the frame 106 in any suitable way.

In the representative embodiment illustrated throughout the drawings,rotation of the first lock element 142 from the first position 142A tothe second position 142B causes corresponding movement of the lockmechanism 112 between a locked configuration 112A (see FIGS. 17A and18A; see also FIGS. 44A and 45A) and an unlocked configuration 1126 (seeFIGS. 17B and 18B; see also FIGS. 44B and 45B). In the lockedconfiguration 112A, the cam 148 engages the catch 150 such that the base110 and the frame 106 are maintained in abutment locked in the closedposition 100A of the sterilizable enclosure 100. In the unlockedconfiguration 1126, the cam 148 is disengaged from the catch 150 suchthat the base 110 and the frame 106 can be moved out of abutment to anopened position 100B of the sterilizable enclosure 100.

As is depicted in FIGS. 44C and 45C, the lock mechanism 112 may alsohave an autoclave configuration 112C, where rotation of the first lockelement 142 to a third position 142C urges the base 110 and the frame106 out of abutment with each other. Here, when in the autoclaveconfiguration 112C with the first lock element 142 in the third position142C, the cam 148 ensures that the sterilizable enclosure 100 remains inthe opened position 1006 until the first lock element 142 issubsequently rotated out of the third position 142C. As will beappreciated from the subsequent description below, this configurationcould advantageously be utilized during an autoclave sterilizationprocess, where the sterilizable enclosure 100 is placed in a pressurizedchamber and is subjected to relatively-high temperature saturated steamwhich, during the sterilization process, could create a pressuredifferential across the sterilizable enclosure 100 significant enough todamage the glass panel 114, depending on the specific configuration,arrangement, sealed state, and geometry of the various components of thesterilizable enclosure 100. Nevertheless, the sterilizable enclosure 100could omit a discrete autoclave configuration 112C.

In one embodiment, the sterilizable enclosure 100 could include a valve158 (shown schematically in phantom in FIG. 2) operatively attached tothe base 110 and/or the frame 106 for equalizing pressure of thesterilizable enclosure 100 locked in the closed position 100A underpredetermined environmental conditions. It will be appreciated that thevalve 158 could remain closed during conventional operation of thesecured portable electronic device 102 and could be configured to openor otherwise equalize pressure with the environment in response toreaching a predetermined pressure differential threshold, such as duringan autoclave sterilization cycle as described above. Moreover, it willbe appreciated that the valve 158 could open automatically, or could bemanually-actuated, such as with a button (not shown, but generally knownin the art). Further, the valve 158 could be configured to operate indifferent ways depending on whether or not the portable electronicdevice 102 is installed or otherwise secured in the sterilizableenclosure 100.

In the embodiment of the sterilizable enclosure 100 depicted in FIGS.1-20C, the first lock elements 142 are mirrored such that the latches146 are generally parallel with each other when in the first position142A (see FIG. 7), and generally face towards each other when in thesecond position 142B (see FIG. 8). However, it will be appreciated thatother configurations could be implemented, such as where the first lockelements 142 are also generally parallel when in the second position142B, as depicted by the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 38. In thisembodiment, the sterilizable enclosure 100 further comprises a link,generally indicated at 160, which is operatively attached to both of thefirst lock elements 142 for concurrent movement therewith to selectivelymove both of the first lock elements 142 simultaneously.

As noted above, the base 110 and the frame 106 cooperate to secure theportable electronic device 102 therebetween when the sterilizableenclosure 100 is locked in the closed position 100A to engage the seal116 and to effect the capacitive coupling between the glass panel 114and the touchscreen interface 104 of the portable electronic device 102.In order to promote the capacitive coupling, in one embodiment, thesterilizable enclosure 100 further comprises a bias mechanism, generallyindicated at 162, operatively attached to the base 110 and/or the frame106 (see FIGS. 4, 9, and 16). The bias mechanism 162 urges thetouchscreen interface 104 of the portable electronic device 102 intoabutment with the glass panel 114 with a predetermined force to enablethe capacitive coupling between the glass panel 114 and the touchscreeninterface 104 of the secured portable electronic device 102 when thesterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in the closed position 100A.

In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-20C, the biasmechanism 162 is realized as four bias elements 164, each of which areoperatively attached to a support surface 166 of the base 110 viafasteners 134 (see FIGS. 4, 9, and 16). The bias elements 164 are shapedand arranged to support the portable electronic device 102 and to urgethe portable electronic device 102 towards the glass panel 114. The biaselements 164 are positioned at respective corners of the portableelectronic device 102 and, in one embodiment, the bias elements 164 areshaped and arranged so as to align the portable electronic device 102with respect to the glass panel 114. The specific shape andconfiguration of the support surface 166 and the bias elements 164 canbe adjusted to effect proper alignment with one or morecorrespondingly-shaped portable electronic devices 102.

It will be appreciated that the bias mechanism 162 could comprise anysuitable number of bias elements 164. By way of non-limiting example, asingle bias element 164 could be provided. In one embodiment, the biasmechanism 162 comprises a resilient material, such as foam or rubber.However, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that thebias mechanism 162 could be realized in a number of different ways andcould be manufactured from a number of different components and/ormaterials. By way of non-limiting example, the bias elements 164 couldbe implemented as one or more replaceable foam pads secured directly tothe base 110, a spring, or another actuator configured to urge theportable electronic device 102 towards the glass panel 114. Similarly,as shown in FIG. 37, one or more bias elements 164 could be operativelyattached to an intermediate device adaptor 168 which, in turn, could beconfigured to cooperate with the base 110 so as to receive and aligndifferent types or models of portable electronic devices 102 within thesterilizable enclosure 100 while, at the same time, urging the glasspanel 114 into abutment with the touchscreen interface 104 when thesterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in the closed position 100A.

In some embodiments, the touchscreen interface 104 may be spaced fromthe glass panel 114, but spaced less than a predetermined distance fromthe glass panel 114 so that the capacitive coupling is effected so as toensure that the touchscreen interface 104 is operable through deflectionof the glass panel 114.

As noted above, in the representative embodiment of the bias mechanism162 depicted in FIGS. 1-20C, the four bias elements 164 arranged at therespective corners of the portable electronic device 102 help align theportable electronic device 102 with respect to the glass panel 114.Further to this end, in one embodiment, at least one of the base 110 andthe frame 106 includes a tray, generally indicated at 170, for aligningthe portable electronic device 102 with respect to the sterilizableenclosure 100. The alignment afforded by the tray 170 ensures properorientation of the portable electronic device 102 with the glass panel114 without necessitating excessive position manipulation duringinstallation into the sterilizable enclosure 100, thereby contributingto ease in conforming to sterile protocol by requiring less handling ofthe sterilizable enclosure 100 and/or the portable electronic device102. In the embodiment of the sterilizable enclosure 100 depicted inFIGS. 1-20C, the tray 170 is realized by the four bias elements 164 ofthe bias mechanism 162.

It will be appreciated that the alignment afforded by the tray 170 couldbe provided independent of the biasing afforded by the bias mechanism162 in certain embodiments. By way of example, the embodiment of thesterilizable enclosure 100 depicted in FIGS. 26 and 27 comprises a tray170 which is formed integrally with the base 110. Here, biasing isafforded independently of the tray 170, such as by one or more biaselements 164 operatively attached to the intermediate device adaptor 168(see FIG. 37) or attached to the base 110 (not shown). Moreover, in thisembodiment, the tray 170 is realized by the support surface 166 of thebase 110 and by four corner braces 172 which extend from the supportsurface 166. It will be appreciated that the specific shape andconfiguration of the support surface 166 and corner braces 172 can beadjusted to effect proper alignment with one or morecorrespondingly-shaped portable electronic devices 102.

In one embodiment, the sterilizable enclosure 100 further comprises atleast one relief, generally indicated at 174, arranged to helpfacilitate proper removal of the portable electronic device 102 from thesterilizable enclosure 100 while in the opened position 100B, whichcontributes to further minimization of handling of the unsecuredportable electronic device 102. It will be appreciated that the relief174 can be defined in a number of different ways depending on thespecific configuration of the sterilizable enclosure 100, such as by anarea adjacent to the support surface 166 extending between pairs of biaselements 164 (see FIG. 4) or pairs of corner braces 172 (see FIG. 27).The relief 174 may be sized so as to correspond to the dimensions of theuser's finger.

As shown in FIG. 19, the sterilizable enclosure 100 may include at leastone magnet, generally indicated at 176, for cooperating with acorresponding magnet or ferrous object of the portable electronicdevice, such as a so-called iPad® “smart cover” magnet (not shown, butgenerally known in the related art) to further promote alignment of theportable electronic device 102 with respect to the sterilizableenclosure 100 during installation. While a pair of magnets 176 aredepicted in FIG. 19 as being coupled to support surface 166 of the base110, such as by fasteners (not shown), one or more magnets 176 could beoperatively attached to any suitable part of the sterilizable enclosure100, or could be omitted entirely. Further, it will be appreciated thatthe base 110 and/or the frame 106 could include additional magnetsand/or a ferrous plate 178 (shown schematically in FIG. 19) forattaching the sterilizable enclosure 100 to an external magnetic supportstand or mount (not shown). While the magnet 176 and the ferrous plate178 are specifically depicted in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 19,those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that otherembodiments described and illustrated herein could similarly incorporatemagnets 176 and/or ferrous plates 178.

As noted above, the glass panel 114 of the sterilizable enclosure 100 isconfigured to abut the touchscreen interface 104 of the portableelectronic device 102 when locked in the closed position 100A. In oneembodiment, the glass panel 114 is manufactured from achemically-strengthened aluminosilicate material, such as Corning®Gorilla® glass, which affords increased durability compared toconventional soda-lime glass. The glass panel 114 could comprise anysuitable type of glass. In other embodiments, the glass panel 114 oranother type of transparent panel could be formed of other materialscapable of withstanding repeated steam sterilization in an autoclave, inwhich the transparent panel is subjected to a temperature of 134 degreesCelsius for 3 minutes or to a temperature of 121 degrees Celsius for 15minutes. These materials have also been distinctively chosen due totheir resistance to commonly used disinfectants.

In the representative embodiments illustrated throughout the drawings,the glass panel 114 is removably secured to the frame 106, as notedabove. However, the glass panel 114 could be selectively secured to thebase 110 via the lock mechanism 112 and without a discrete frame 106, orcould be attached to the frame 106 such as with an adhesive.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 15, in one embodiment, the sterilizableenclosure 100 further includes a retainer, generally indicated at 180,removably attached to the frame 106 and cooperating with the frame 106to define a gap 182 for removably securing the glass panel 114 therein.As shown best in FIG. 15, the frame 106 has a stepped ledge 184 disposedadjacent to the window 108 which defines an upper shelf 186 and a lowershelf 188 at least partially supporting the glass panel 114. Here, thelower shelf 188 extends into the window 108 and is shapedcomplimentarily to the portable electronic device 102 such that thelower shelf 188 of the frame 106 supports the glass panel 114 adjacentto the periphery of the portable electronic device 102 without obscuringthe touchscreen interface 104 when in the closed position 100A. It willbe appreciated that this arrangement helps effect the capacitivecoupling via the bias mechanism 162 while, at the same time, promotingloading of the glass panel 114 between the lower shelf 188 of the frame106 and the portable electronic device 102 along the outer periphery ofthe portable electronic device 102, optionally aligned with a framemember of the portable electronic device. This arrangement helpsdistribute force more evenly across the glass panel 114 without bendingor bowing the center of the glass panel 114 or the center of thetouchscreen interface 104, which could otherwise create gaps between theglass panel 114 and the touchscreen interface 104, the presence of whichmay be detrimental to the sensitivity and operation of the touchscreeninterface 104 in use.

Such a positioning of the glass panel 114 allows the glass panel 114 toproperly contact and engage the touchscreen interface 104 to effect thecapacitive coupling, as noted above.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 15, the retainer 180 isremovably secured to the upper shelf 186 of the stepped ledge 184 of theframe 106 using fasteners 134. As best shown in FIG. 15, the retainer180 defines an interface surface 190 for abutting the upper shelf 186 ofthe frame 106, and a compression surface 192 for at least partiallysupporting the glass panel 114. It will be appreciated that thesterilizable enclosure 100 could employ any suitable number of retainers180 to secure the glass panel 114. In the representative embodimentillustrated in FIG. 4, the sterilizable enclosure 100 employs fourretainers 180 spaced about the window 108 of the frame 106 and securedthereto. It will be appreciated that the retainer 180 and the frame 106cooperate to facilitate replacement or servicing of the glass panel 114.However, the glass panel 114 could be operatively attached to the frame106 in other ways, such as with an adhesive capable of withstandingrepeated steam sterilization in an autoclave, as previously discussed.

Referring now to FIG. 15, in one embodiment, the glass panel 114 has afirst thickness 194, and the gap 182 defines a first distance 196greater than the first thickness 194. In FIG. 15, the first thickness194 and the first distance 196 are illustrated by respective phantomlines positioned adjacent to the sterilizable enclosure 100. The lowershelf 188 of the frame 106 is spaced from the compression surface 192 atthe first distance 196. In one embodiment, the sterilizable enclosure100 further includes at least one gasket 198 abutting the glass panel114 and at least one of the lower shelf 188 and the compression surface192. In the representative embodiment illustrated herein, two gaskets198 are provided: one disposed between the glass panel 114 and thecompression surface 192; and one disposed between the glass panel 114and the lower shelf 188. The gasket 198 disposed between the glass panel114 and the compression surface 192 extends from an outer edge of theglass panel 114 across the entire compression surface 192, but couldonly partially extend across the compression surface 192 in otherembodiments. The gasket 198 disposed between the lower shelf 188 and theglass panel 114 extends from the outer edge of the glass panel 114 to aninner edge of the lower shelf 188, but could terminate short of theinner edge of the lower shelf 188 in other embodiments.

Each gasket 198 has a second thickness 200 measured prior to attachingthe retainer 180 to the frame 106, and a sum of the first thickness 194of the glass panel 114 and the second thickness 200 of the gaskets 198is greater than the first distance 196 of the gap 182. Thus, the gaskets198 compress against the glass panel 114 during attachment of theretainer 180. It will be appreciated that this configuration promoteseven loading against the glass panel 114 and “bottoms out” the retainer180 against the upper shelf 186 to prevent over-tightening of theretainer 180 which could otherwise shatter the glass panel 114 duringassembly of the frame 106.

In some embodiments, when the portable electronic device 102 is securedin the sterilizable enclosure 100 in the closed position 100A, the lowershelf 188 of the frame 106 extends over an outer peripheral edge of theportable electronic device 102 such that the lower shelf 188 helps holdthe portable electronic device 102 in the sterilizable enclosure 100.

It will be appreciated that the thickness 194 of the glass panel 114 canbe adjusted to accommodate different sizes and/or types of portableelectronic devices 102, depending on specific application requirements.Further, it will be appreciated that a substantial balance needs to bestruck between the strength of the glass panel 114, which increases withincreasing glass panel 114 thickness 194, and consistent translation ofinput to the touchscreen interface 104, which decreases with increasingglass panel 114 thickness 194. Moreover, it will be appreciated that thethickness 194 of the glass panel 114 can be adjusted to correspond tochanges in the surface area of the touchscreen interface 104 of certainsizes and types of portable electronic devices 102. In one embodiment,the glass panel 114 has a thickness 194 of between 0.1 mm and 1.9 mmfacilitates translation of input to the touchscreen interface 104 ofconventional portable electronic devices 102, with a thickness 194 ofbetween 0.75 mm and 1.25 mm being advantageous in certain applications,and a thickness 194 of between 0.33 mm and 1.5 mm being acceptable incertain applications.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-5 and 14A-14C, as noted above, the portableelectronic device 102 may include an input control 120 adjacent to thetouchscreen interface 104 for facilitating additional selective controlof the portable electronic device 102 (see FIG. 5). In one embodiment,the glass panel 114 of the sterilizable enclosure 100 includes athrough-hole 202 (see FIGS. 14A-14C) defined therein disposed adjacentto the input control 120 of the portable electronic device 102 in theclosed position 100A. Here, the sterilizable enclosure 100 furtherincludes a button, generally indicated at 204, engaging the glass panel114 adjacent to the through-hole 202 for selectively translating forceto the input control 120 of the secured portable electronic device 102.More specifically, the button 204 is movable such that force applied tothe button 204 is translated to the input control 120 of the securedportable electronic device 102. In certain embodiments, the button 204could comprise a capacitive material.

In one embodiment, the frame 106 of the sterilizable enclosure 100includes a brace, generally indicated at 206, extending into the window108 and at least partially supporting the button 204 against the glasspanel 114 adjacent to the through-hole 202 (see FIG. 1). It will beappreciated that the brace 206 may also help support the glass panel 114in the frame 106. Moreover, it will be appreciated that the gasket 198could be shaped complimentarily to the brace 206 (not shown in detail inthis embodiment). In the embodiment of the button 204 illustrated inFIGS. 1-4, and as is shown in FIG. 14A, a button lip 208 may be providedwith at least one rib 210 extending therefrom for compressing againstthe brace 206 and/or the glass panel 114. Here, the button lip 208includes ribs 210 for compressing against both the brace 206 and theglass panel 114 (see FIG. 14A). In the embodiment of the button 204illustrated in FIGS. 14B and 14C, the brace 206 is omitted from theframe 106 and the button 204 includes a flange 212 at least partiallysupporting the button 204 against the glass panel 114 (see FIGS. 14B and14C). Here, the through-hole 202 of the glass panel 114 may include atapered edge 214 complimentarily shaped to and at least partiallyabutting the flange 212 of the button 204. The button 204 may furtherinclude a transparent insert, such as a glass insert 216 supportedtherein (see FIG. 14B) adjacent to the input control 120 of the securedportable electronic device 102 when in the closed position 100A. Theglass insert 216 is at least partially transparent and is configured totransmit light therethrough to one or more sensors of the portableelectronic device 102 adjacent to or otherwise integrated into the inputcontrol 120, such as a so-called “fingerprint reader” or “touchidentification sensor”. As noted above, one or more portions of thebutton 204 could comprise a capacitive material.

Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, in one embodiment, one of the base 110and the frame 106 may define an aperture 218 for being disposed adjacentto a camera 220 (see FIG. 29; not shown in detail, but generally knownin the related art) on a back of the secured portable electronic device102, with a transparent insert 222 supported in the aperture 218 forfacilitating transmission of light to the camera of the secured portableelectronic device 102. The insert 222 could be manufactured from anysuitable material sufficient to transmit light, such as glass, sapphire,quartz, plastic, and the like. Here, the base 110 of the sterilizableenclosure 100 defines the aperture 218 supporting the insert 222, andboth the aperture 218 and insert 222 each have a frustoconical profile,which helps keep the insert 222 secured to the base 110 in operation(not shown in detail). The insert 222 could be secured to the base 110by press-fit, adhesive, fasteners, or other suitable methods. In otherembodiments, the aperture could have a counterbore configuration forreceiving a cylindrical insert. Other shapes, arrangements, andconfigurations of the aperture 218 and insert 222 are also contemplated.

As noted above, in one embodiment, movement of the lock mechanism 112 tothe locked configuration 112A urges the glass panel 114 into abutmentwith the touchscreen interface 104 of the portable electronic device 102and, at the same time, locks the sterilizable enclosure 100 in theclosed position 100A. However, the sterilizable enclosure 100 could urgethe glass panel 114 into abutment with the touchscreen interface 104 ofthe portable electronic device 102 independent of movement of the lockmechanism 112. By way of non-limiting example, as shown in theembodiments illustrated in FIGS. 41-43, the frame 106 could include atleast one preassembly mechanism, generally indicated at 224, for urgingthe glass panel 114 into abutment with the touchscreen interface 104when the sterilizable enclosure 100 is in either the closed position100A or the opened position 100B (FIGS. 41-43 are shown with the base110 omitted for clarity). Moreover, the preassembly mechanism 224 couldcooperate with the lock mechanism 112 and/or the bias mechanism 162 toensure proper abutment between the glass panel 114 and the touchscreeninterface 104, as noted above. To that end, the preassembly mechanism224 could include one or more arms 226 that secure the portableelectronic device 102 to the frame 106 independent of the base 110. Thearms 226 could be rotatably actuated to engage the portable electronicdevice 102 (see FIGS. 41 and 42), could be actuated with a linkagesystem, generally indicated at 228 (see FIG. 43), or could otherwise beactuated in any suitable way.

Referring again to FIGS. 1-20C, as noted above, the sterilizableenclosure 100 employs the seal 116 for engaging between the base 110 andthe frame 106 so as to prevent ingress and egress of contaminants to andfrom the secured portable electronic device 102 when the sterilizableenclosure 100 is locked in the closed position 100A. As best shown inFIGS. 5, 13, 15, and 16, in one embodiment, at least one of the base 110and the frame 106 includes a channel, generally indicated at 230, for atleast partially receiving the seal 116 therein. In the representativeembodiment illustrated herein, the channel 230 is defined in the base110 of the sterilizable enclosure 100, has a generally rectangularprofile, and is shaped complimentarily to the seal 116.

In one embodiment, at least one of the base 110 and the frame 106includes an engagement element, generally indicated at 232, which isshaped to engage the seal 116 when the sterilizable enclosure 100 is inthe closed position 100A. In the representative embodiment illustratedherein, the engagement element 232 is formed integrally with the frame106, has a generally rectangular profile, and is shaped complimentarilyto the seal 116. The shape, configuration, and arrangement of the seal116, the channel 230, and the engagement element 232 advantageouslydefines a tortuous path from the outside environment toward the seal 116when the sterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in the closed position100A. It will be appreciated that the tortuous path contributes toincreased opportunities to prevent contamination of the portableelectronic device 102 and/or prevent contamination of the operatingroom, thereby making it difficult for pathogens, contaminants, and thelike to traverse to and/or from the seal 116 and the outsideenvironment. Nevertheless, as will be appreciated from the subsequentdescription below, the channel 230 and/or the engagement element 232could have any suitable profile, shape, or configuration sufficient toengage the seal 116, as noted above. By way of non-limiting example, theengagement element 232 could be defined by one or more surfaces arrangedto engage the seal 116. Moreover, while the channel 230 is formed in thebase 110 and the engagement element 232 is depicted as being operativelyattached to the frame 106, it will be appreciated that this arrangementcould be interchanged.

In the representative embodiment, the seal 116 is advantageouslyrealized as a unitary, one-piece, endless component, and may have agenerally oval-shaped cross-sectional profile, as shown in FIGS. 15-17B.The seal 116 may also be provided with structural features which promoteretention of the seal 116, such as spaced-apart ribs (not shown indetail). It will be appreciated that the seal 116 could have otherprofiles, such as an annular profile as depicted in FIG. 27, or anotherprofile as is described in greater detail below in connection with theembodiment depicted in FIGS. 28-36. In one embodiment, the seal 116 isformed of silicon rubber. The seal 116 is capable of withstandingrepeated steam sterilization in an autoclave, in which the seal 116 issubjected to a temperature of 134 degrees Celsius for 3 minutes orsubjected to a temperature of 121 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes. In oneembodiment, the seal 116 comprises a material with a melting pointgreater than 130 degrees Celsius, such as 150 degrees Celsius. The seal116 may be configured to withstand all known decontamination methods formedical equipment, or only specific decontamination methods. The seal116 could be arranged, configured, or otherwise realized from anysuitable number of components, could be manufactured from any suitablematerial, and could have any suitable profile and/or shape sufficient toprevent ingress and egress of contaminants in a sterile,medical/surgical environment. Similarly, it will be appreciated that theseal 116 could be configured to be replaced or serviced after apredetermined amount of time and/or use, depending on the specificdesign and configuration of the sterilizable enclosure 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 23-25, in one embodiment, the seal 116 and theengagement element 232 each define a boundary between a touch zone 234and a no-touch zone 236. As will be appreciated from the subsequentdescription below, the touch zone 234 and the no-touch zone 236 areprovided so as to encourage proper handling of the sterilizableenclosure 100 during loading of the portable electronic device 102, aswell as during removal of the portable electronic device 102. Here, thetouch zone 234 comprises first portions of the base 2386 and firstportions of the frame 238F, and the no-touch zone 236 comprises secondportions of the base 240B and second portions of the frame 240F. In therepresentative embodiment shown in FIGS. 23 and 24, for the purposes ofclarity, consistency, and illustration, the touch zone 234 is depictedas a repeating hexagon-shaped pattern (see FIG. 24) and the no-touchzone 236 is depicted as a repeating square-shaped pattern (see FIGS. 23and 24). More specifically, the first portions of the base 2386 and thefirst portions of the frame 238F are each depicted with a repeatinghexagon-shaped pattern and are differentiated in that the repeatinghexagon-shaped pattern of the first portions of the frame 238F isrotated at 45-degrees with respect to the repeating hexagon-shapedpattern of the first portions of the base 2386 (see FIG. 24). Similarly,the second portions of the base 240B and the second portions of theframe 240F are each depicted with a repeating square-shaped pattern andare differentiated in that the repeating square-shaped pattern of thesecond portions of the frame 240F is rotated at 45-degrees with respectto the repeating square-shaped pattern of the second portions of thebase 240B (see FIGS. 23 and 24).

In this embodiment, the sterilizable enclosure 100 further comprises avisual indicia, generally indicated at 242 (see FIG. 25), which isconfigured to differentiate the first portions 2386, 238F of the touchzone 234 from the second portions 240B, 240F of the no-touch zone 236 soas to promote contact only within the first portions 2386, 238F of thebase 110 and the frame 106 of the sterilizable enclosure 100.

As noted above, the sterilizable enclosure 100 is configured to allowthe portable electronic device 102, which is considered non-sterile, tobe secured in the sterilizable enclosure 100 in such a way thatsterility of the no-touch zone 236 of the sterilizable enclosure 100 isnot compromised, thereby allowing the secured portable electronic device102 to be subsequently used in sterile and/or aseptic environments.Moreover, as is described in detail below, the sterilizable enclosure100 is further configured such that after the sterilizable enclosure 100has been used in a contaminated environment, the secured portableelectronic device 102 can be removed from the sterilizable enclosure 100without subsequently exposing the portable electronic device 102, or theuser handling the portable electronic device 102, to contaminants. Tothese ends, and by way of illustration, when the sterilizable enclosure100 is used, sterilization or other types of decontamination areemployed to ensure that both the first portions 2386, 238F and thesecond portions 240B, 240F of the touch zone 234 and the no-touch zone236, respectively, have a desired level of sterility assurance or logreduction of micro-organisms, as described in greater detail below.Next, the portable electronic device 102, which is considerednon-sterile at all times, is placed within the touch zone 234 with thesterilizable enclosure 100 in the fully opened position 100B (see FIG.24; see also FIG. 5). Here, as is described in greater detail below, theindicia 242 are advantageously provided to direct a non-sterile user toonly touch within the touch zone 234 and, conversely, not to touch theno-touch zone 236. The sterilizable enclosure 100 can then be moved tothe closed position 100A to secure the portable electronic device 102within the touch zone 234. Here, when the sterilizable enclosure 100 isfirst locked in the closed position 100A (see FIG. 8), the no-touch zone236 of sterilizable enclosure 100 remains sterile until use subsequentlypotentially exposes the no-touch zone 236 to contaminants. Nevertheless,contaminants are prevented both from leaving the touch zone 234 and fromentering the touch zone 246 via the seal 116 and/or the tortious pathdescribed above.

Conversely, the portions of the no-touch zone 236 which are exposed tothe outside environment may be exposed to contaminants, such asmicro-organisms, pathogens, blood, tissue, and the like, during use ofthe sterilizable enclosure 100, such as in an operating room. However,as noted above, the engagement of the seal 116 when locked in the closedposition 100A prevents these contaminants from reaching the securedportable electronic device 102. When the user desires to remove thesecured portable electronic device 102, the sterilizable enclosure 100may be decontaminated, after which the sterilizable enclosure 100 may bemoved into the opened position 100B (see FIG. 6). Here too, the indicia242 are advantageously provided to direct the user to only touch withinthe touch zone 234 during removal of the portable electronic device 102.Thus, by avoiding contact with the potentially contaminated no-touchzone 236, the portable electronic device 102 can be removed from thesterilizable enclosure 100 without contaminating the portable electronicdevice 102 from exposure to contaminants, such as may be present in theoperating room.

As shown best in FIG. 6, the tray 170, defined in this embodiment by thebias elements 164 of the bias mechanism 162 as noted above, isadvantageously spaced inwardly from the seal 116 at a predetermineddistance. It will be appreciated that this configuration contributes toease in conforming to sterile protocol by providing handling room withinthe touch zone 234 (compare FIG. 6 to FIG. 24) to help preventinadvertent contact within the no-touch zone 236 during bothinstallation and removal of the portable electronic device 102. Whilethe predetermined distance between the seal 116 and the tray 170 issubstantially equidistant, it will be appreciated that differentarrangements may be utilized in certain embodiments. For instance, leftand right sides could be spaced so as to provide handling room forfingers, while top and bottom sides could be spaced differently, such asless than the spacing of the left and right sides.

With continued reference to FIGS. 23-25, in one embodiment, the indicia242 is disposed on at least one of the first portions 2386, 238F of thebase 110 and the frame 106 defining the touch zone 234. Put differently,one or both of the first portions 2386, 238F could be provided withindicia 242. In the representative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 24,the first portion 2386 of the base 110 is provided with indicia 242comprising text reading “TOUCH ONLY WITHIN SEAL”, a box surrounding thetext, and arrows extending from the box to the seal 116.

In the schematic representation depicted in FIG. 25, a first indicia242A is disposed on at least one of the second portions 240B, 240F ofthe base 110 and the frame 106 defining the no-touch zone 236, and asecond indicia 2426 is disposed on at least one of the first portions2386, 238F of the base 110 and the frame 106 defining the touch zone234. Put differently, one or both of the second portions 240B, 240Fcould be provided with first indicia 242A of the same or different type,and one or both of the first portions 2386, 238F could be provided withsecond indicia 2426 of the same or different type. The first indicia242A provided within the no-touch zone 236 are configured to discouragecontact within the no-touch zone 236 and may be configured todifferentiate the no-touch zone 236 from the touch zone 234. The secondindicia 2426 provided within the touch zone 234 are configured toencourage contact within the touch zone 234 and may be configured todifferentiate the touch zone 234 from the no-touch zone 236. In oneembodiment, the first indicia 242A disposed on the second portions 240B,240F of the base 110 and/or the frame 106 within the no-touch zone 236are a first color (for example, red), and the second indicia 2426disposed on the first portions 2386, 238F of the base 110 and/or theframe 106 within the touch zone 234 are a second color (for example,green).

It will be appreciated that the indicia 242 could be provided in anumber of different ways and with a number of different configurations.By way of non-limiting example, the indicia 242 could be realized bycoloring applied only within the first portion 2386 of the base 110within the touch zone 234. Similarly, the indicia 242 could be realizeda sticker, label, and the like. Furthermore, the indicia 242 could berealized as a texture, coating, paint, and the like. Further still, theindicia 242 may comprise one or more electronic devices that illuminatecertain portions of the sterilizable enclosure that are present withinthe touch zone 234 or no-touch zone 236. It should be appreciated thatthe indicia 242 may include any modality that is visually detectable bya user.

In one embodiment, an inner periphery 244 of the seal 116 defines theboundary between the touch zone 234 and the no-touch zone 236. However,those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that components,structures, and the like, other than the seal 116 could be employed todifferentiate the touch zone 234 from the no-touch zone 236 in certainembodiments. According to one embodiment, the touch zone 234 comprises aframe touch surface area 246 associated with the frame 106, and a basetouch surface area 248 associated with the base 110; and the no-touchzone 236 comprises a frame no-touch surface area 250 associated with theframe 106, and a base no-touch surface area 252 associated with the base110. Here, the frame touch surface area 246 and the base touch surfacearea 248 are defined by the surfaces of each of the components of thesterilizable enclosure 100 which are isolated from the outsideenvironment by the seal 116 when the sterilizable enclosure 100 islocked in the closed position 100A, and the frame no-touch surface area250 and the base no-touch surface area 252 are defined by the surfacesof each of the components of the sterilizable enclosure 100 which do notform part of the frame touch surface area 246 or the base touch surfacearea 248. Here, when the sterilizable enclosure 100 is locked in theclosed position 100A, the frame touch surface area 246 and the basetouch surface area 248 define a sealed volume 254 in which the securedportable electronic device 102 is accommodated.

In operation, in one embodiment, the portable electronic device 102 isprepared for use inside a sterile field during a surgical procedure.First, the sterilizable enclosure 100, which has previously beensterilized in a steam autoclave or other decontamination process, islocated in a sterile area to receive the portable electronic device 102.The sterilizable enclosure 100 may be provided in the opened position100B so that the portable electronic device 102 merely needs to beplaced in the tray 170. In order to maintain sterility, this is donewithout allowing the portable electronic device 102 (or anyone touchingthe portable electronic device 102) to contact any surface of thesterilizable enclosure 100 outside of the touch zone 234, as describedabove. In some cases, non-sterile personnel are not allowed to reachover or carry any non-sterile object over any sterile surface, soshielding or covering of areas of the sterilizable enclosure 100 outsideof the seal 116 may be utilized during loading. The sterilizableenclosure 100 is then moved to the closed position 100A. Thesterilizable enclosure 100 is preferably closed without requiring anycontact of the portable electronic device 102. Accordingly, contaminantson the portable electronic device 102 are contained within the sealedvolume 254 of the sterilizable enclosure 100. The sterilizable enclosure100 may be closed by someone that has taken steps to maintain sterility,e.g., such as scrubbed-in surgical staff or other personnel.

Referring now to FIGS. 20A-22, in one embodiment, a transfer device 256is provided for shielding at least a portion of the sterilizableenclosure 100 while holding the sterilizable enclosure 100 in thepartially opened position 100B with the frame 106 pivoted away from thebase 110. As is best shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the transfer device 256generally comprises a pair of outer walls 258, an upper wall 260extending between and merging with the outer walls 258, and a lower wall262 extending between and merging with the outer walls 258 spaced fromthe upper wall 260 to define a passage 264. A handle 266 is provided onthe lower wall 262. A pair of hollow receptacles 268 are arrangedadjacent to the handle 266 and are shaped to receive the latches 146 ofthe lock mechanism 112, as described in greater detail below. A pair oframps 270 are provided on the outer walls 258 and extend inwardlytowards each other. The ramps 270 are arranged to abut the frame 106 ofthe sterilizable enclosure 100, as described in greater detail below.Three cover elements 272 are provided, two of which extend towards eachother from the outer walls 258 spaced below the ramps 270, and one ofwhich extends from the lower wall 262 away from the handle 266. Thosehaving ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that otherconfigurations of the transfer device 256 are contemplated herein.

In use, the transfer device 256 is provided to hold the sterilizableenclosure 100 in the partially opened position 100B, as noted above. Tothis end, the sterilizable enclosure 100 is positioned adjacent to thetransfer device 256 as depicted in FIG. 20A, with the latches 146 of thelock mechanism 112 facing towards the receptacles 268 of the transferdevice 256. Next, the sterilizable enclosure 100 is brought into contactwith the transfer device 256 such that the transfer device 256 holds thesterilizable enclosure 100 in the opened position 100B. To that end, theramps 270 abut top and bottom edges of the frame 106, a portion of theupper wall 260 abuts a right edge of the frame 106, and a portion of thelower wall 262 supports a right edge of the base 110 (see FIG. 20B; seealso FIG. 22). In this configuration, the cover elements 272 and thewalls 258, 260, 262 cooperate to cover, shield, or otherwise obstructaccess to certain portions of the sterilizable enclosure 100. Inparticular, and as is described in greater detail below, when viewedfacing towards the passage 264, the transfer device advantageouslyrestricts user to and prevents contact with the no-touch zone 236 of thesterilizable enclosure 100, e.g., users such as non-sterile personnel.Once the sterilizable enclosure 100 is held in the opened position 100B,the portable electronic device 102 is brought towards the transferdevice 256 and is inserted through the passage 264 into the tray 170 ofthe sterilizable enclosure 100 (see FIG. 20C). Here, the cover elements272 are advantageously angled to promote alignment of the portableelectronic device 102 with respect to the base 110 of the sterilizableenclosure 100. Subsequently, the handle 266 can be grasped to pull thetransfer device 256 away from the sterilizable enclosure 100. As thetransfer device 256 is moved away from the sterilizable enclosure 100,the ramps 270 come out of contact with the frame 106 and gravity causesthe frame 106 to move towards the base 110 such that the sterilizableenclosure 100 moves towards the closed position 100A.

The transfer device 256 is advantageously manufactured as a unitary,one-piece component, comprised of a material which can withstandautoclave sterilization, as noted above. The sterilizable enclosure 100and the transfer device 256 can be sterilized together, such as in acommon container. Here, because the transfer device 256 holds thesterilizable enclosure 100 in the opened position 100B, vacuum lockingof the sterilizable enclosure 100 is prevented, such as may otherwiseoccur during an autoclave process. Alternatively, the sterilizableenclosure 100 and the transfer device 256 can be sterilized separatelyand then subsequently used. It will be appreciated that the transferdevice 256 could also be designed as a sterile, disposable, one-time-usearticle.

In one embodiment, securing the portable electronic device 102 withinthe sterilizable enclosure 100 via the transfer device 256 is achievedwith two users: a sterile user and a non-sterile user. Here, the sterileuser advantageously only handles the sterilizable enclosure 100, and thenon-sterile user advantageously only handles the transfer device 256 andthe portable electronic device 102. However, at the onset, the sterileuser could handle both the previously-sterilized transfer device 256 andthe previously-sterilized sterilizable enclosure 100, such as may berequired to position the transfer device 256 and sterilizable enclosure100 in the orientation depicted in FIG. 20B. Here, the shape andconfiguration of the transfer device 256 advantageously inhibits thesterile user from accessing the previously-described touch zone 234 (seeFIG. 24) as they hold the base 110 and the frame 106 of the sterilizableenclosure 100. Specifically, the outer walls 258 are shaped so as toprevent the sterile user from positioning their hands between the base110 and the frame 106 as they grasp the base 110 and the frame 106. Oncethe sterile user holds the sterilizable enclosure 100 in the positiondepicted in FIG. 20B, with the transfer device 256 supported on thesterilizable enclosure 100 and with the passage 264 facing towards thenon-sterile user, the non-sterile user can insert the portableelectronic device 102 through the passage 264. Here, the cover elements272 help guide the portable electronic device 102 into position suchthat the non-sterile user's hands need not enter the passage 264. Oncethe portable electronic device 102 is supported on the base 110, thenon-sterile user can grasp the handle 266 of the transfer device 256while the sterile user continues to support the sterilizable enclosure100. As the non-sterile user pulls the handle 266 to move the transferdevice 256 away from the sterilizable enclosure 100, gravity moves thesterilizable enclosure 100 towards the closed position 100A, as notedabove. The sterile user can then lock the sterilizable enclosure 100 inthe closed position 100A to effect the capacitive coupling and to engagethe seal 116, as described above.

In one embodiment, the sterilizable enclosure 100 is capable ofsatisfying design and performance standards for sterilizationcontainment devices, ANSI/AAMI ST77. While the term “decontamination” asused herein refers to removal or killing of any amount ofmicro-organisms, “sterilization” is a specific level of decontaminationthat has been empirically determined as an acceptable level ofdestruction of micro-organisms for certain applications. Examples of theacceptable sterilization process conditions can include a 3-logreduction in micro-organisms, a 6-log reduction in micro-organisms, or a12-log reduction in micro-organisms. A “validated sterilization process”is understood to be a sterilization process that, based on past testing,is known to sterilize a particular instrument to a desired level ofsterilization that essentially ensures any microbial material on theinstrument would be innocuous. By way of non-limiting example, asurgical instrument is often considered sterilized if the instrument hasa desired level of sterilization corresponding to a 6-log reduction inmicro-organisms. This means that the micro-organism population on theinstrument was likely reduced by at least 99.9999%. U.S. PatentPublication No. 2015/0374868, hereby incorporated by reference, providesan explanation of how to obtain environmental measurements for avalidated sterilization process.

However, it will be appreciated that the desired level of sterilizationcan be higher or lower than these exemplary reductions inmicro-organisms as necessary for particular applications. Moreover, itwill be appreciated that this disclosure is directed to sterilizableenclosures 100 adapted for use in a broad number of applications whereit is desirable to use portable electronic devices 102 and wheredecontamination is required, such as an entire room for medical ornon-medical applications. Non-limiting examples of non-medicalapplications requiring sterilization can include an ambulance, amanufacturing facility for computers, an aircraft, and a post office.

In certain embodiments, decontamination of the sterilizable enclosure100 may be less stringent than steam autoclave and other rigorousmethods of sterilization. For instance, in some cases, the sterilizableenclosure 100 may be decontaminated by hand using detergents, using anautomated washer/disinfector, hand wipes, alcohol wipes, or other formsof manual cleaning. These other forms of cleaning may be useful to usersthat are hesitant to directly clean their portable electronic devicesfor fear of damage. In these cases, the embodiments of the sterilizableenclosure 100 described herein can significantly improve disinfectionsince the portable electronic device 102 is safely secure in thesterilizable enclosure 100 before cleaning, and thus able to be exposedto such cleaning methods without damage.

As noted above, the present disclosure is directed, generally, towardsat least two types of sterilizable enclosures: the first type in whichthe base 110 and the frame 106 are pivotally attached to each other viaone or more hinges 118 as depicted in FIGS. 1-20, 23-24, and 26-27, andthe second type without hinges as depicted in FIGS. 28-36 and 39-40. Aswill be appreciated from the subsequent description below, the variouscomponents, structural features, configurations, arrangements, and thelike of each of the sterilizable enclosures described herein andillustrated throughout the drawings can be interchanged for certainapplications. Thus, in the following description of the embodimentsdepicted in FIGS. 28-36 and 39-40, the structure and components that arethe same as or that otherwise correspond to the structure and componentsof the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-20, 23-24, and 26-27 are providedwith the same reference numerals increased by 2000.

Referring now to FIGS. 28-36 and 39-40, certain embodiments of thesecond type of sterilizable enclosure 2100 are shown. As noted above,the second type of sterilizable enclosure 2100 is substantially similarto the first type of sterilizable enclosure 100 described above, butlacks hinges 118. Thus, for the purposes of clarity and consistency,only the specific differences between the second type of sterilizableenclosure 2100 and the first type of sterilizable enclosure 100 will bedescribed below and only certain structural features and componentscommon between the types will be discussed herein and depicted in thedrawings. Unless otherwise indicated below, it will be appreciated thatthe description of the first type of sterilizable enclosure 100 abovemay be incorporated by reference with respect to the second type of thesterilizable enclosure 2100 without limitation.

With continued reference to FIGS. 28-36 and 39-40, as noted above, thesterilizable enclosure 2100 omits pivoting between the base 2110 and theframe 2106 in these embodiments and employs a corner lock arrangement,generally indicated at 2300, to “sandwich” and capture the securedportable electronic device 102 between the base 2110 and the frame 2106in the closed position 2100A (see FIGS. 28, 29, and 32-36) with thetouchscreen interface 104 engaging the glass panel 2114. The corner lockarrangement 2300 comprises four discrete lock mechanisms 2112. Each lockmechanism 2112 comprises a first lock element, generally indicated at2142 (see FIGS. 31, 35, and 36), and a second lock element, generallyindicated at 2144 (see FIGS. 30, 35, and 36). In this embodiment, thefirst lock elements 2142 are rotatably supported by the frame 2106 andthe second lock elements 2144 are operatively attached to the base 2110,such as with fasteners 2134. However, those having ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that this arrangement could be interchanged forcertain applications.

As is best shown in FIG. 35, in this embodiment, the first lock elements2142 of the sterilizable enclosure 2100 each comprise a twist latch 2302operatively attached to a carrier 2304 for concurrent rotation. Eachtwist latch 2302 is accommodated in a blind bore 2306 formed in theframe 2106. A sealing washer 2308 is also supported in the blind bore2306 and is complimentarily shaped to the twist latch 2302 and the blindbore 2306 so as to allow rotation of the twist latch 2302 and, at thesame time, prevent contaminants from reaching the carrier 2304 (see alsoFIG. 36). The twist latch 2302 is advantageously arranged to be flushwith the frame 2106, and comprises a drive formation 2310 (see FIG. 32)shaped to receive rotational torque from a tool, such as a conventionalscrewdriver, a chuck key, a custom tool, and the like. As a deterrenceto theft, a lock arrangement (not shown) could be included to preventthe portable electronic device 102 from being removed from thesterilizable enclosure 2100 without a key (not shown). A pin 2312 isoperatively attached to the carrier 2304 for concurrent rotation withthe twist latch 2302.

In this embodiment, the second lock elements 2144 of the sterilizableenclosure 2100 each comprise a catch member 2314 in which one or morehelical slots 2316 are defined (see FIG. 30). Here, each catch member2314 operatively attached to the base 2110 via a fastener 2134, and isaccommodated in a respective corner pocket 2318 formed in the base 2210(see FIGS. 28 and 30), as described in greater detail below. The helicalslots 2316 formed in the catch members 2314 are shaped to receive therespective pins 2312 of the first lock elements 2142.

Once the portable electronic device 102 is positioned in the biaselements 2164 defining the tray 2170 and attached to the base 2110, theframe 2106 is placed on top of the base 2110 and the portable electronicdevice 102. Here, each of the pins 2312 is positioned entering into oneof the respective helical slots 2316. Subsequent rotation of each of thetwist latches 2302, such as via a screwdriver engaging in the respectivedrive formations 2310, causes the respective carrier 2304 and pin 2312to rotate. Here, because the pin 2312 is positioned in the helical slots2316, rotation of the carrier 2304 causes the pin 2312 to traverse thehelical slot 2316, thereby bringing the frame 2106 towards the base 2110which, in turn, effects the capacitive coupling between the touchscreeninterface 104 and the transparent panel 114 and engages the seal 2116between the base 2110 and the frame 2106. It will be appreciated thatthe sterilizable enclosure 2100 is locked in the closed position 2100Avia cooperation of the four lock mechanism 2112 of the corner lockarrangement 2300. Moreover, because of the configuration of the lockmechanisms 2112 in this embodiment, it will be appreciated thatcompression of the seal 2116 helps keep the sterilizable enclosure 2100locked in the closed position 2100A in that reactive force from thecompressed seal 2116 translated to the pin 2312 prevents the carrier2304 and the twist latch 2302 from rotating freely. Other embodiments ofthe corner lock arrangement 2300 are contemplated. By way ofnon-limiting example, the embodiment of the sterilizable enclosure 2100depicted in FIGS. 39 and 40 employs four lock mechanisms which aresubstantially similar to the lock mechanism 112 described in greaterdetail above in connection with the embodiment of the sterilizableenclosure 100 depicted in FIGS. 1-20C. Moreover, those having ordinaryskill in the art will appreciate that the various lock mechanisms 112,2112 described herein and depicted throughout the drawings could beinterchanged for certain applications.

Referring now to FIG. 34, in this embodiment, the frame 2106 defines aframe periphery edge 2320, the base 2110 defines a base periphery edge2322, and the seal 2116 defines a seal periphery edge 2324. As is bestshown in FIG. 34, in this embodiment, when the sterilizable enclosure2100 is in the closed position 2100A, the seal periphery edge 2324 isarranged adjacent to the frame periphery edge 2320 and the baseperiphery edge 2322. More specifically, the frame periphery edge 2320,the base periphery edge 2322, and the seal periphery edge 2324 arecoincident when the sterilizable enclosure 2100 is in the closedposition 2100A. As will be appreciated from the subsequent descriptionbelow, this configuration helps prevent contaminants from being trappedbetween surfaces, edges, components, and the like, during use, therebyallowing the outer surface 2156 of the sterilizable enclosure 2100 to beeffectively decontaminated without necessitating removal of the securedportable electronic device 102 (see FIG. 36). This may be advantageousfor certain applications, such as where the sterilizable enclosure 100is used in a hospital by a medical professional who visits differentpatients throughout the day without necessarily subjecting thesterilizable enclosure 2100 to more exhaustive decontaminationprocedures. Here, the medical professional could clean the sterilizableenclosure 2100 between patient visitations by, for example, using adisinfectant wipe to quickly clean the outer surface 2156 of thesterilizable enclosure 2100, in particular the seal periphery edge 2324,the frame periphery edge 2320, and the base periphery edge 2322. It willbe appreciated that the seal periphery edge 2324 could extend beyond theframe periphery edge 2320 and the base periphery edge 2322 for certainapplications. Because the seal periphery edge 2324 is aligned with thebase periphery edge 2322 and the frame periphery edge 2320,micro-organisms are trapped at the outermost surface area of thesterilizable enclosure 2100 and, thus, can be effectively decontaminatedfor certain applications by manually wiping the external surface of thesterilizable enclosure 2100.

With continued reference to FIGS. 30, 31, 34, and 36, in one embodiment,the sterilizable enclosure 2100 further comprises an engagement element2232 operatively attached to the frame 2106 which is shaped to engagethe seal 2116 when the sterilizable enclosure 2100 is in the closedposition 2100A. Here, the engagement element 2232 comprises anengagement periphery edge 2326 which is arranged adjacent to the sealperiphery edge 2324. As is best shown in FIG. 34, because the engagementelement 2232 is formed integrally with the frame 2106 in thisembodiment, the engagement periphery edge 2326 forms part of the frameperiphery edge 2320. In the representative embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 28-36, the engagement element 2232 has a generally trapezoidalcross-sectional profile and is shaped complimentarily to the seal 2116so as to effect engagement with the seal 2116 in the closed position2100A, as noted above.

Referring again to FIG. 34, in one embodiment, a channel 2230 is definedin the base 2110 spaced inwardly from the base periphery edge 2322 toaccommodate at least a portion of the seal 2116. The seal 2116, in turn,comprises a channel portion 2328 shaped to be received in the channel2230 formed in the base 2110, and an engagement portion 2330 extendingfrom the channel portion 2328 to the seal periphery edge 2324. Here, atleast a portion of the engagement portion 2330 of the seal 2116 isshaped to engage the frame 2106 when the sterilizable enclosure 2100 isin the closed position 2100A. The channel portion 2328 of the seal 2116and the channel 2230 of the base 2110 each have a generally trapezoidalprofile in the representative embodiment illustrated herein. Thisconfiguration helps retain the seal 2116 to the base 2110. However,other configurations of the seal 2116 and/or the channel 2230 arecontemplated.

Referring now to FIGS. 30, 31, and 36, in one embodiment, the seal 2116defines a first seal region 2332 shaped to accommodate the portableelectronic device 102, and a second seal region 2334 shaped toaccommodate the lock mechanism 2112 and to partition the lock mechanism2112 from the first seal region 2332. More specifically, in thisembodiment, the seal 2116 comprises four integrally-formed seal legelements 2336 which each define a discrete second seal region 2334 (seeFIG. 30). The second seal regions 2334 are each shaped to partition oneof the four lock mechanisms 2112 from the first seal region 2332. Here,each of the second seal regions 2334 has a generally triangular shapeand encompasses the corner pockets 2318 in which the catch members 2314are supported (see FIG. 30). Here too in this embodiment, the engagementelement 2232 of the frame 2106 is shaped so as to engage the entire seal2116, including the seal leg elements 2336, so as to isolate orotherwise partition the first seal regions 2332 from the second sealregion 2334 (see FIG. 31). As shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the entire seal2116, including the seal leg elements 2336, has a commonly shapedcross-sectional profile. However, it will be appreciated that otherconfigurations, shapes, profiles, and the like, are contemplated for thefirst and second seal regions 2332, 2334.

Partitioning the first seal region 2332 from the second seal regions2334 helps ensure that contaminants do not come into contact with thesecured portable electronic device 102 while, at the same time, allowingthe outer surface 2156 to be effectively decontaminated without openingthe sterilizable enclosure 2100. Moreover, while the sealing washers2308 help prevent contaminants from approaching the corner pockets 2318,the partitioning afforded between the seal regions 2332, 2334nevertheless ensures that contaminants do not enter the first sealregion 2332. It will be appreciated that the partitioning afforded bythe seal 2116 described above could be implemented into otherembodiments, such as if the sterilizable enclosure were to employinternal hinges, living hinges, and the like, mounted within the cornerpockets 2318 (not shown). Moreover, while the representative embodimentof the sterilizable enclosure 2100 illustrated in FIGS. 28-36 employs asingle seal 2116, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat more than one seal could be implemented, such as with an externalseal configured to allow the use of a disinfectant wipe to quickly cleanthe seal periphery edge 2324, the frame periphery edge 2320, and thebase periphery edge 2322 as noted above, and an internal seal definingthe first seal region 2332 and formed as a separate component from theexternal seal, with internal hinges and/or lock mechanisms arrangedbetween the external seal and the internal seal (not shown)

In this way, the embodiments of the sterilizable enclosure 100, 2100described herein prevent both ingress and egress of contaminants to andfrom the secured portable electronic device 102, thereby significantlycontributing to ease of cleaning, disinfecting, and maintaining a lownumber of contaminants on the outside of the enclosure 100, 2100,thereby affording increased opportunities for robust utilization ofportable electronic devices 102 in industry. It will be appreciated thatthe sterilizable enclosures 100, 2100 enable medical professionals, suchas nurses, doctors, emergency medical technicians, and the like, toutilize commercially-available, familiar portable electronic devices 102in sterile environments without necessitating the use of complex,expensive, or otherwise unfamiliar devices or technology. Moreover, itwill be appreciated that the sterilizable enclosures 2100 are reusable,serviceable, and compatible with conventional medical cleaning,decontamination, and disinfection equipment, chemicals, and procedurescommonly utilized in the medical industry to ensure sterility. Thus, thesterilizable enclosures 100, 2100 maintain an aseptic environment forthe secured portable electronic device 102 in that contaminants, such aspathogens, blood, tissue, and micro-organisms are prevented from passingto the secured portable electronic device 102 locked in the closedpositions 100A, 2100A of the respective sterilizable enclosures 100,2100. Similarly, the sterilizable enclosures 100, 2100 ensure thatcontaminants cannot leave the secured portable electronic device 102,thereby enabling existing decontamination and disinfection procedures tobe performed after the sterilizable enclosures 100, 2100 are locked inthe closed position 100A, 2100A which, in turn, facilitates aseptic useof the contaminated or otherwise non-sterile portable electronic device102 in environments in which decontamination is required.

The sterilizable enclosures 100, 2100 could be used in: sterile fieldsduring surgery; cadaver laboratories; clean rooms, includingpharmaceutical and interplanetary spacecraft manufacturing; satellitemanufacturing; decontamination areas; sterile inventory areas; patientrooms; hospital check-in areas; waiting rooms; nurses' stations;micro-biology labs; field use by emergency medical technicians (EMTs);or any other area in which the sterilizable enclosures 100, 2100 may beadvantageous. The portable electronic device 102 can provide greatassistance in various work environments and the sterilizable enclosures100, 2100 enable users to operate the portable electronic device 102 inthese environments.

It will be further appreciated that the terms “include,” “includes,” and“including” have the same meaning as the terms “comprise,” “comprises,”and “comprising.”

Several embodiments have been discussed in the foregoing description.However, the embodiments discussed herein are not intended to beexhaustive or limit the invention to any particular form. Theterminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of wordsof description rather than of limitation. Many modifications andvariations are possible in light of the above teachings and theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Embodiments of the disclosure can be described with reference to thefollowing numbered clauses, with specific features laid out in thedependent clauses:

I. A sterilizable enclosure for use in securing a portable electronicdevice having a touchscreen interface and for preventing ingress andegress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice, said sterilizable enclosure comprising:

a frame comprising a frame periphery edge with said frame defining awindow with a transparent panel operatively attached to said frameadjacent to said window and arranged to abut the touchscreen interfaceof the portable electronic device;

a base for being coupled to said frame and comprising a base peripheryedge, wherein said base and said frame cooperate to define a closedposition of said sterilizable enclosure in which the portable electronicdevice is secured between said base and said frame;

a seal comprising a seal periphery edge with said seal operativelyattached to at least one of said base and said frame and arranged to beengaged between said base and said frame when said sterilizableenclosure is in said closed position so as to prevent ingress and egressof contaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device withsaid seal periphery edge arranged adjacent to said frame periphery edgeand said base periphery edge.

II. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause I, furthercomprising an engagement element operatively attached to the other ofsaid base and said frame and shaped to engage said seal when saidsterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

III. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause II, wherein saidengagement element comprises an engagement periphery edge arrangedadjacent to said seal periphery edge.

IV. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of the precedingclauses, wherein a channel is defined in said base spaced inwardly fromsaid base periphery edge to accommodate at least a portion of said seal.

V. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause IV, wherein saidseal comprises a channel portion shaped to be received in said channel,and an engagement portion extending from said channel portion to saidseal periphery edge with said engagement portion shaped to engage saidframe in said closed position.

VI. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause V, wherein saidchannel portion and said channel each have a generally trapezoidalprofile.

VII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of the precedingclauses, wherein said seal is a unitary once-piece component.

VIII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of thepreceding clauses, wherein said seal comprises a material with a meltingpoint greater than 130 degrees Celsius.

IX. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of the precedingclauses, further comprising a lock mechanism for selectively lockingsaid sterilizable enclosure in said closed position, said lock mechanismcomprising a first lock element rotatably coupled to one of said baseand said frame, and a second lock element operatively attached to theother of said base and said frame arranged to engage said first lockelement to lock said sterilizable enclosure in said closed position.

X. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause IX, wherein saidseal defines a first seal region shaped to accommodate the portableelectronic device, and a second seal region shaped to accommodate saidlock mechanism and to partition said lock mechanism from said first sealregion.

XI. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause X, furthercomprising four discrete lock mechanisms; and

wherein said seal defines four discrete second seal regions each shapedto accommodate one of said lock mechanisms.

XII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of the precedingclauses, wherein said transparent panel comprises an aluminosilicatematerial.

XIII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of thepreceding clauses, wherein said frame periphery edge, said baseperiphery edge, and said seal periphery edge are coincident when saidsterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

XIV. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of the precedingclauses, further comprising a bias mechanism operatively attached tosaid base to urge the touchscreen interface of the portable electronicdevice into abutment with said glass panel to enable a capacitivecoupling between said glass panel and the touchscreen interface of thesecured portable electronic device when said sterilizable enclosure isin said closed position.

XV. A sterilizable enclosure for use in securing a portable electronicdevice having a touchscreen interface and for preventing ingress andegress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice, said sterilizable enclosure comprising:

a frame defining a window;

a base for being coupled to said frame, wherein said base and said framecooperate to define a closed position of said sterilizable enclosure inwhich the portable electronic device is secured between said base andsaid frame;

a lock mechanism for selectively locking said sterilizable enclosure insaid closed position;

a glass panel operatively attached to said frame adjacent to said windowand arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of the portableelectronic device when said sterilizable enclosure is locked in saidclosed position;

a seal operatively attached to at least one of said base and said frameand arranged to be engaged between said base and said frame when saidsterilizable enclosure is locked in said closed position so as toprevent ingress and egress of contaminants to and from the securedportable electronic device; and

a biasing mechanism operatively attached to said base to urge thetouchscreen interface of the portable electronic device into abutmentwith said glass panel to enable a capacitive coupling between said glasspanel and the touchscreen interface of the secured portable electronicdevice when said sterilizable enclosure is in said closed position.

XVI. A sterilizable enclosure for use in securing a portable electronicdevice having a touchscreen interface and for preventing ingress andegress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice, said sterilizable enclosure comprising:

a frame defining a window;

a base for being coupled to said frame, wherein said base and said framecooperate to define a closed position of said sterilizable enclosure inwhich the portable electronic device is secured between said base andsaid frame;

a lock mechanism for selectively locking said sterilizable enclosure insaid closed position, said lock mechanism comprising a lock elementrotatably coupled to one of said base and said frame;

a glass panel operatively attached to said frame adjacent to said windowand arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of the portableelectronic device when said sterilizable enclosure is locked in saidclosed position; and

a seal operatively attached to at least one of said base and said frame;

wherein rotation of said lock element of said lock mechanism from afirst position to a second position urges said base and said frametowards each other to enable a capacitive coupling between said glasspanel and the touchscreen interface of the secured portable electronicdevice and to engage said seal so as to prevent ingress and egress ofcontaminants to and from the secured portable electronic device.

XVII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XVI, whereinsaid glass panel is arranged so that external tactile engagement of saidglass panel is translated to an electrostatic field of the touchscreeninterface of the secured portable electronic device when saidsterilizable enclosure is locked in said closed position.

XVIII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clauses XVIthrough XVII, wherein said lock mechanism further comprises a secondlock element; and wherein said lock elements cooperate to selectivelylock said sterilizable enclosure in said closed position.

XIX. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clauses XVIthrough XVIII, wherein said lock mechanism comprising said lock elementrotatably coupled to one of said base and said frame further comprises acatch operatively attached to the other of said base and said framearranged to engage said lock element when said lock element is in saidsecond position.

XX. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XIX, whereinrotation of said lock element from said first position to said secondposition moves said lock mechanism between: an unlocked configurationwherein said lock element is disengaged from said catch such that saidbase and said frame can be moved out of said closed position to anopened position of said sterilizable enclosure; and a lockedconfiguration wherein said lock element engages said catch such thatsaid base and said frame are maintained in said closed position of saidsterilizable enclosure.

XXI. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XX, wherein saidlock element comprises a cam arranged such that rotation of said lockelement towards said second position urges said frame towards said base.

XXII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clauses XVIthrough XXI, wherein said lock mechanism has an autoclave configurationwherein rotation of said lock element to a third position prevents saidbase and said frame from abutting each other.

XXIII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clausesXVI-XXII, wherein said base is pivotally coupled to said frame.

XXIV. A sterilizable enclosure for use in securing a portable electronicdevice having a touchscreen interface and for preventing ingress andegress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice, said sterilizable enclosure comprising:

a frame defining a window with a transparent panel operatively attachedto said frame adjacent to said window and arranged to abut thetouchscreen interface of the portable electronic device;

a base for being coupled to said frame, wherein said base and said framecooperate to define a closed position of said sterilizable enclosure inwhich the portable electronic device is secured between said base andsaid frame;

a seal operatively attached to one of said base and said frame andarranged to be engaged between said base and said frame when saidsterilizable enclosure is in said closed position so as to preventingress and egress of contaminants to and from the secured portableelectronic device;

a engagement element operatively attached to the other of said base andsaid frame and shaped to engage said seal when said sterilizableenclosure is in said closed position, wherein said seal and saidengagement element each define a boundary between: a touch zonecomprising first portions of said base and said frame, and a no-touchzone comprising second portions of said base and said frame; and

an indicia configured to differentiate said first portions of said touchzone from said second portions of said no-touch zone to promote contactonly within said first portions of said base and said frame of saidsterilizable enclosure.

XXV. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XXIV, whereinsaid indicia is disposed on at least one of said first portions of saidbase and said frame defining said touch zone.

XXVI. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clauses XXIVthrough XXV, wherein said indicia is disposed on at least one of saidsecond portions of said base and said frame defining said no-touch zone.

XXVII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XXVI, wherein asecond indicia is disposed on at least one of said first portions ofsaid base and said frame defining said touch zone.

XXVIII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XXVII, whereinsaid indicia disposed on said second portions of said base and saidframe defining said no-touch zone is a first color, and wherein saidsecond indicia disposed on said first portions of said base and saidframe defining said touch zone is a second color.

XXIX. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clauses XXIVthrough XXVIII, wherein said indicia comprises text.

XXX. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clauses XXIVthrough XXIX, wherein said touch zone comprises a frame touch surfacearea of said frame, and a base touch surface area of said base.

XXXI. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in clause XXX, whereinsaid no-touch zone comprises a frame no-touch surface area of said frameseparate from said frame touch surface area, and a base no-touch surfacearea of said base separate from said base touch surface area.

XXXII. The sterilizable enclosure as set forth in any one of clausesXXIV through XXXI, wherein an inner periphery of said seal defines saidboundary between said touch zone and said no-touch zone.

XXXIII. A method of securing a portable electronic device having atouchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment, said methodcomprising:

providing a sterilizable enclosure comprising a frame defining a windowwith a transparent panel operatively attached to said frame adjacent tosaid window and arranged to abut the touchscreen interface of theportable electronic device, a base pivotally coupled to said frame, anda seal arranged to be engaged between said base and said frame when saidsterilizable enclosure is in a closed position so as to prevent ingressand egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice;

providing a transfer device configured to shield at least a portion ofsaid sterilizable enclosure from contaminants while holding saidsterilizable enclosure in an opened position with said frame pivotedaway from said base;

holding said sterilizable enclosure in said opened position with saidtransfer device;

inserting the portable electronic device into said sterilizableenclosure while in said opened position; and

moving said transfer device away from said sterilizable enclosure toallow said frame to move towards said base into said closed position.

1-15: (canceled)
 16. A method of securing a portable electronic devicehaving a touchscreen interface for use in a sterile environment, themethod comprising: providing a sterilizable enclosure comprising: aframe defining a window with a transparent panel attached to the frameadjacent to the window and positioned to abut the touchscreen interfaceof the portable electronic device, a base selectively movable relativeto the frame between an opened position and a closed position, and aseal between the base and the frame and engaged therebetween when thesterilizable enclosure is in a closed position for preventing ingressand egress of contaminants to and from the secured portable electronicdevice; providing a transfer device having a pair of outer members, anupper wall extending between and connecting to the outer members, and alower wall extending between and connecting to the outer members andspaced from the upper wall to define a passage therebetween, the wallsconfigured to shield at least a portion of the sterilizable enclosurefrom contaminants while holding the sterilizable enclosure in an openedposition; holding the sterilizable enclosure in the opened position withthe transfer device; inserting the portable electronic device throughthe passage and into the sterilizable enclosure while the transferdevice is held in the opened position; and moving one of the transferdevice and the sterilizable enclosure away from the other whilecontinuing to hold the sterilizable enclosure to allow the frame to movetowards the base into the closed position.
 17. The method of claim 16,further comprising providing a handle on the transfer device.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the handle is provided on one of the upperwall and the lower wall.
 19. The method of claim 17, further comprisinggrasping the handle and pulling the transfer device away from theenclosure.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the base is pivotallycoupled to the frame for movement between the opened position and theclosed position, and gravity biases the frame toward the base, and theframe pivots towards the base and the closed position as the transferdevice is pulled away from the enclosure.
 21. The method of claim 16,further comprising providing hollow receptacles in the lower wall of thetransfer device to receive latches of a lock mechanism of the enclosure.22. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a ramp on eachof the outer members with each ramp extending inwardly toward the otherfor receipt of edges of the frame.
 23. The method of claim 22, furthercomprising providing three cover elements, two of which extend towardeach other from the outer members spaced below the ramps, and one ofwhich extends from the lower wall for disposition over edges of thebase.
 24. The method of claim 13 wherein the cover elements are angleddownwardly to facilitate receipt of the portable electronic device bythe base.
 25. The method of claim 16, further comprising holding theenclosure partially open in the transfer device, with the frame pivotedaway from the base less than 90 degrees.
 26. The method of claim 16,further comprising resting one edge of the base on a portion of thelower wall and resting the frame on at least one of a portion of theupper wall and the ramps.
 27. The method of claim 16, wherein theenclosure has sterile no-touch zones on an exterior surface that areshielded from contact with a non-sterile person that inserts theportable electronic device into the enclosure.
 28. The method of claim16, wherein a sterile user engages a sterile no-touch zone of theenclosure to hold the enclosure in the transfer device while theportable electronic device is loaded into the enclosure by a non-sterileuser.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein, after the portable electronicdevice has been loaded into the enclosure, the sterile user holds theenclosure as the transfer device is moved away from the enclosure by thenon-sterile user.
 30. The method of claim 16, wherein the base ispivotally coupled to the frame for movement between the opened positionand the closed position.
 31. The method of claim 16, wherein the outermembers are outer walls.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the outerwalls are shaped to prevent a sterile user from positioning their handsbetween the base and the frame when grasping the base and the frame.